Civic Democrats call for parliamentary sessions to be limited to key issues ahead of election

The right-of-centre Civic Democratic Party has said it wants the country’s interim prime minister, Jan Fischer, and parties to agree on holding no further parliamentary sessions except on issues with a broad political consensus until the national election in May. The party’s deputy chairman Petr Nečas made the statement on Friday, stressing that the Chamber of Deputies should only debate bills necessary for the running of the state and the economy. He also charged that the rival Social Democrats were conducting what he called an “irresponsible” election campaign by trying to push through programmes that would balloon the state budget deficit. Recent sessions have seen the Civic Democrats repeatedly use delay tactics to block the political Left from passing measures that would increase salaries (through 13th month pay) and maternity leave benefits.

In related news, the Social Democrats agreed on Friday afternoon after the latest session was dissolved that they would also be willing to negotiate with other parties and the prime minister on the easing of current obstruction in Parliament, and find common ground on major issues until the election. At the same time, they suggested, they would continue pushing their own priorities.

Author: Jan Velinger